On Rohini Nakshatra

I am burning the early morning oil for a certain deadline and have been postponing this post...but it keeps coming back...especially since a special visitor has requested my comment on the poem "Rohini Nakshatra" by our talented poet - Lolly.

Here goes...

The love of Radha and Krishna is eternal and wild. Though eternal, they never united in marriage. Krishna left his childhood sweetheart to go live with the Kings, and marry Rukhmini, Satyabhama and many others.

This poem is very special and I think the poet has done a great job in building this scene, adding rhythm to Krishna's narration. The poet makes it feel like a dream, Krishna's dream - yet, I am thinking this was more than just a dream.

Radha is never referred to by name, but there is ample reference to her as "O Pretty". She remains Krishna's only true love and all the other women in his life cant evoke the wild and pure love he has for her.

The scene suggests a tearful meeting between the two lovers, just before his departure or much later in their lives...when Radha knows that this time between them is but fleeting...her tears and her love seem useless to others, the world wouldn’t understand.

The crossing of the river represents breaking societal rules and boundaries and reinforces the wild nature of their love. The couple re-live their past as they indulge in passionate and playful love making. There is music, songs of love, and songs of praise...Mischievous Krishna! He always knew he was special, always loved the attention!

As the morning nears, so does separation, so does the return to society. This pain of separation haunts Radha in her dreams.

Somehow, the ending really doesn’t feel like an ending. Either it is the poet's hope or it is Krishna's knowledge of their fate that this dance would happen again. Their love would remain eternal.

Overall, it is a very original piece of work. I can’t wait for the poet's next masterpiece!

Iyer

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